New Aston Villa director Rongtian He has paid an emotional tribute late father after achieving his latest career jump.

Affectionately more commonly known as ‘Ho’, he has been a Villa supporter over a number of years and was became Executive Assistant to the Chairman and Oversea Business officer when Dr Tony Xia took over the club from Randy Lerner last summer.

Rongtian He's late father (Image: Rongtian He (Twitter))

The latest step to the claret and blue board is his biggest yet - and as he celebrated that promotion, he touchingly tweeted a picture of, and a message to, his late father.

He said: “The most difficult thing to go through is losing my father, a hero who shaped my world. I know u r still with me, your son will stay strong.”